Mechanical toy



l. G. Nlcks. y MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED NOVA 2B. 192i.

Patented De.v5,v1922.

M ATTORNEYS.

NITHESS. W

I. G. NICKS.

MECHANICAL TOY. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 28'Ig'Iv9zI.

'Patented Deo. 5,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHED' 2.

W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922o IRA1GUY`NICKS, OF DENVER, CLORADO.

MECHANICAL TOY.-

Application filed 'November 28, 1921,` Serial No. 518,296.

This invention relates to improvements in r'mec'h-a-Igl'ica-l #toys,:and embodies a novelly constructed and mounted hobby-horse, or

analogous imitation rocking body, which is so hitched -to a cart, -incombination with novelly `coacti-ng elements therebetween, asl

to provide for the propulsion of the toy as a ibod-ily whole by theroc-king actuation of `the horse body -or parts thereof.

lt may be said at the outset vthat if in theI description 4and claimsthe terni horse be employed allo-ne, for the sake of brevi-ty andsimplicity, Iit is understood that the word is used inthe sense ofimitation horse, er for that matter any equivalent animal body oranalogous rock-ing body, and likewise where the term cart is employed,it is intended to cover any other appropriate type of vehicle as well.

rThe primary object ofthe invention has been to devise such a-combinedtoy,iwhich is not only lfacilelyfoperable by a child for selfpropulsion, but which also provides for a rocking, bucking, or gallopingmotion of the horse,l whether driven or ridden, whereby thegeneralappearance .and motions are more natural and lifelikehence morepleasurable. to the child and associates.

`Other objects andadvantages of the im proveinents will be so clearlyapparent, as incidental to he following disclosure, that it would'sert-fe no useful purpose-to further enlarge upon the same initially,and with these Jprefacing remarksl therefore, reference 'will b eimmediately )had to the accordpanyin'g drawings, forming a part, ofthi-s application 'in illustration of a practical'einbodinient of theimprovements, in which drawings like reference numerals designate thesaine par-ts in the several views, of which` l Figure l is sideelevational view of the in'iproved toy, certa-in parts additionallyappearing `in dottedoutl'ine to illustrate the changing positions-vofsaid parts;y igure -2 is a top planv view thereof,

Figure 3 is a rear 'elevationaiview of `the cart section and acrank-element forthe axle thereof, one of the aXle journals being partlybroken away to illustrate ath-rust ball 'bearing arrangement; l I

Figure-4l -is a vertical cross-sectional View through thefhors'esection, taken along the line i- 4 of Figure l, and illustrating -asteering or guiding wheeled support mounts the horse; vand Figure 5 is alocal view, indica-ted by the line 5-'5 of Figure l, showing in frontelevation the application-cfa foot steeringjbar element, whichadditionally functions' which pedalino' -ineans to `assist in :therocking ac-v tuationoo'f the horse. Y

ln referring first tothe improved horse construction, it is to beunderstood that although the parts are illustrated being for-med ofvflat surfaced wood lsections they may in, actual practice -be made oflother suitable ymater-iai and 4may be of rounded Vout contour, 'ifdesired, to more closelyvsimulate the natural animal body.` r

VThe trunk or nia-in body portion .of :the horse consists of spacedsidel `walls l0, .the edge openings between which lmay-bei-closed 'byfiller block sections where requisite ,or` if desired for a rounded offand lmore finished appearance, thesa'id side walls ,providingthechest-shoulder portions 11,' the ruinp portions 12 and the fore and rear,leg lportions l3-l4i, and may also-provide', in association with anupper yfiller 'block' 39 hereinafter mentioned, `the poinrn'el 'andcan-tie portions 16-17 of an imitation saddle body l5 with accessories,-which saddle body andraccesserie-s, as well `as the bridle, inane ofthe horse and :other minor decorations orequipment, may be lpaintedorf-.otherwise applied to the horse body for ornamental .purposes '-18designates the tail vmember-5pivot-ally connected at itsl` upper end, asat 19, between the upper portions of the rump `sections 12, nddesignates the neclr `portion pivotally supported, as at 2l, betweenthe'chest-shoul# vder vsections 11, the head of the khorse 22 'beingintegrally Vformed or joined with the neck, and a 'base extension-23 oflthe neck being projected well down between the chest p ortionsll. t i liy Each -side wall oftheichest portion 1l ,is :provided with-a curvedislot 24,struck Von an arc with the pivotal position 2l as its center,and the ends of a lateral pin 25 or paired pins, oppositely projectedfrom the base extension 23 of the neck section, ride in the said'slots24 to function as will hereinafter appear.

26 and 27 respectively indicate driving and bridle reins connected at 28to the head 22, which sets of reins are preferably formed of rigidlystiff material, such as light metal bars or the equivalent, and 29simply desig nates a foot rest or bar for the riders feet, when mountedin the saddle, which cross bar extends transversely of the horsesforelegs 13.

From the base of the horses rear leg sections, there is forwardlyprojected a steering gear support or bar 30 which pivotally mounts, asat 3l, a transversely disposed foot steering bar 32, providing straps orstirrup members ,33, and this bar 32 further provides forwardlyextending connecting rods 34, for coupling the steering bar with aguiding wheeled support for the horse body. These coupling rods 34 maybe attached in any suitable way, and l have illustrated their ends asbeing bent as olfsets adapted to be projected through apertures in thebar 32 and the axle of the wheeled support, which provides a convenientsecuring means for the said ends.

rlhis guiding wheeled support comprises an axle 35, mounting a smallpair of steering wheels 36 and also mounting the lower bifurcate arms 37of a vertical rod or post 38 which passes up into the horse body (seelFig. 4) and into a recessed filler block 39,

the lower portion of the rod 38 being preferably rotatably supported bya fixed bottom filler block 40 through the means of opposed bea-ringdisks 4l 42, maintained by the upper and lower Cotter pins 43. However,other equivalent arrangements could be provided for all of the immediately foregoing features.

The rod 38 may, therefore, be free to rotatably oscillate in the horsebody, under control of the steering gear, but otherwise the mounting issubstantially rigid, so that as the horse body is rocked, as hereinaftermentioned` there is also imparted thereto a slight loping-like or arising and falling motion, owing to the ground pivotal bearing providedfor by the support-infr guiding wheels 36. f

eferring now to the cart or sulky construction, the axle 45 thereofprovides the central crank arm 46 and the opposed. side crank arms 47,which axle has a pair of vertical rod members 48 furnishing upper andlower T-elements 49-50, the upper ones 49 providing fittings forcoupling the rear ends of a pair ofshafts 5l and an interposed rearshaft bar 52 therefor, while the lower ones 50 provide journals for theaxle 45. These preceding elements may be of tubular formation, ifdesired, or otherwise.

Vlhe said lower T-elements 50 may each.

be formed with a ball race 53 (see the right side of Fig. 3) to providefor end thrust ball bearing journals for the rotatable axle 45, and atleast one of the vehicle wheels 54 serves as a traction wheel which isfast to the axle to rotate therewith, while the other wheel 54 ispreferably revoluble freely on the axle, for obvious reasons, althoughit could be made fast to the axleif desired, as this whole arrangementis merely stated optionally and could be altered in various ways.

The extremities of the axle 45 are braced by a pair of angularly formedbracket supports7 one of the legs 55 of each of which exte ds upwardlyand forwardly for connection to the shafts 5l, as at 56, while theshorter leg` 57 is vertically upstanding and at its upper end is bentinwardly at 58 for attachment., as at 59, to the bottom of a seat 66.These angular brackets are-apertured :it their inverted apices to fitover the axle ends and are held in place, as by the mits 6l, with theinner hub faces of the wheels turning in anti-frictional engagement withthe balls of said ball bearings.

The seat 60 may be a long or short one and may be mounted in anysuitable way, but as illustrated it a long one and is supported from theshafts of the cart by means of divergent arms 62 extending immediatelyunderneath the seat, the outer ends of which i s 62 are bolted throughthe seat to the shz s 5l, as at 63, while the inner ends hereof aresecured together and tothe seat and the rear shaft bar 52, as by acommon bolt spacer blocks 65-66 being provided if desired., although notat all essential.

ln coupling up the horse and vehicle, to attain the primarily desiredends of my improved combination toy, the shafts 5l of the sulky areconnected with a pair of pivot pins 67, one of which projects laterallyand mitwardlv from each of said chest sectionsl se that the body of thehorse as a whole is pivotally associated with the shafts 5l "o swing ina vertical plane with the pivot Y:ins 67 as its axis. j A

to of the horse, as distinguished from its. rockng motion, caused bytheforward and backiard swing of the guiding wheeled sup'port as will laterappear,-whiCh vertical play of the shafts imparts a slightrocking/motion to the sulky similar to that occurring in real driving.

.er pair of long arm77 actuating rods 70, one for each side of the horsebody, are pivotally associated at their forward ex- 'llhis pivotalconnection also permits of a .slight tilting or vertical play of theshafts compensate for the bodily rise and fall lOO llO

trenlities withthe ends of the lateral pin 25 yprojected -frorn'ftfheneckbase `extension 23,

`whiclr ends ride in andextendthrough the slots 2li of the`v chestsect-ions 11 as be- 5 fore referred' to(Y "Fla pair of fshort armactuating `rods lj'are piyot'ally 'connected at `their reaifendsito thecrank arm i6 of the vehianle,'pandat Atheir"forward ends they/are'niadepflast =t'oithe 'flower end of thetail section 16, as Lby ineansofbolts '72 or equivalent jrigidfsecuring means. "While I have reins'connecting position 28 Vwas "innnedif lately below the axis 2 1g "by,pulling back on .the reins "the actuation would cause' the starting `ofla tforward yoperation. However .toseect fai-mere definite position as'a Start les' point t des'rb@ 'thecyde 0f Creations let it'fbe lfirst'assumed that the parts are disposed as in 'dotted olutline, when thehrQI'SBS'jaW will be in its lowerinost position l "'infthej-plane 'ofthe `line `{befittingthe axis 21, the an meneer pivot 19 Win be inhighest position 'lying` in the plane of the f lineffb (nitting`vthfeja'xis 67, the lateral pin will be inits extreme rearinost posi,y

-tionllying inthe plane of the line c cutting' 1the 21, the guidingwheels 36 'will bein itheirrear lpositions 4Zfthe "hind legs will'be inVtheir'highest positionsjas indicated by e, the central crank-t6 will bein its forward sostieni and the paired @ranks ,47. will be '4i-n ytheirrear positions zl. 'It may 'be well to state 'that the' reason that the`pin 25, 'dotted i'n'atthe right,: appears to be out of jfslot Q is'sini'plybeoause Vthe horse as Q en Vin its lowerniost position the Slot24E- itself would be correspond.- lglj lmrl hat k'dits Cl'fdillustration Ais 'oinitted to'fav'oid ufndneconfusion of `lin-estheidra-,wings.A *l

' Starting the` `with 'the 'parts'in the posi- "tjionfs' asflinythedotted outline, the cycle of Aoperatiens ,will 'be as follow-S1#downward and forward thrust 'with the feet against thefcoinbinedsteering' and pedaling` 32 will cause all of the ,aforesaid parts,respectively, to `rnove tothe positions as indicated' by thedesignations a", ,b2 d', .e2 .f/ and .235e downward andt5`rearwardthrust being'applied to the eranl erence to the drivingreins26 apply yalso to 46 vin itsfvforwardI position f `bythe short armactuating rods 7l, as will be apparent owino` to the downward swine' ofthe ruina y a f3 i and tail member 18, it being remembered that thehorsebody is pivotally connected tothe shafts at 67. lt will be noted that?the" lo`ng arm actuating` rods 70 willnow 'he 1n a plane[extending`from the crank arms ii'po'sitio'ns at z' tothe lateral pin 25 disposedin :the intermediate plane @Q the cranlr46 moving to the position g, andthe l reins vconnection 28V is now a trifle above the plane ce of theaxis 2l. The guiding wheeled support has also been inoved slightlyforward tothe Aposition d', which correspondingly elevates the horseasf-a bodily whole with a slight rising inotion.

Upon now pulling backfon the reins 26 (and'it will be understood thatall reft-he bridle reins 27) there will be applied an operating` forceto cause all of the yaforesaid parts, respectively7 to moveto theypositions a2, 62, 02,0?, 7i) and f, the crank larins '4-7 being' pulledover forwardly a quarter revolution from the position i to the positionf by the forward pulling' actuation of the `rods Z0 owing` tothe forwardswing of the pin 25, ycarried by the base neck extension `2 3, froni'theplane c to c2, which lattermove-y ment has been caused by 'pullingthe'horses head back to its position a2. "lt will now be noted that thelong arm rods 7() lie in a vplane attending from the crank arms l?positions at to the lateral pin 25 disposed in'E the entraine forwardplane 02, while the crank arrn 46 and the rear ends ofthe short arinrods 7l lie at the position,

with the tail member 18- having been operated rearwardly to its fullopen position.

Now. upon` pushing` forwardly on the rigid reins element 26 (or 27)the'head will vbe swunf; forwardly and -downwardly back to the positiona, the other; parts, respectively, being' likewise actuated back totheir intermediate positions 7),` c,

fd, c,f yand g, it being; observed that the longv arm rods 70 have thistime lfunctioned push rods to force the crank l? downwardly vandVrearwardly from the positions 'f to the positions g, while at the sarnetime thecrank'arrn '4A-6 has been y'also revolved a quarter revolutiontothe position v from the position it, forcing theh short arm rods 7lforwardly to partially fold up the tail inernber 18 and raising therunip of the horse halfway; i (it.) The reins connecting` position 28now passing immediately below the planea', by pullingr back again on thereins -26 (or 27) the horses head is pulled downwardly to the vpositiona' again, movingl the respective parts back to their initialdot-tedgoutli'ne pofunctioning as push bars,'-during this quar-` izo-lsiti onsrb, c, d, e, fand 7L, the rods still ter revolution, forcingthe crank arms 47 from the positions g to the positions it, and

the crank arm i6 being moved forwardly and downwardly from the positioni to the position f, whereby the tail member 18 is fully closed and therump section of the horse is moved upwardly to its highest tiltedposition, completing the cycle of operations which may be repeatedindefinitely.

During these four quarter crank revolutions, it will likewise be obviousthat the guiding wheeled support will be once shifted forwardly for itsfull swing and will be once shifted rearwardly for its full swing,causing the horse body as a whole to twice rise and fall in addition toits rocking motion, providing for the life-like loping motions beforereferred to.

Considering the forward propulsion of the combination toy, although itis apparent that backing up motions may be reversely accomplished, itmay be briefly emphasized finally that the long arm rods serveas'actuating rods for the continuous revolution of the crank element thesaid rods being operated by power applied to the horses head in swingingthe latter back and forth on its pivotal axis 2l, and which rodsfunction as pull7 rods from the position h through i to f and as pushrods from the position f through to z whereas the short arm rods 7lfunction primarily to cause the rocking of the horse body as a wholeserving as upwardly pushing rods from the position h through z' to y andas downwardly pulling rods from the position 7" through g to h; but therods 7l additionally function as power applying rods to their crank 46from the position f through g to 7i. providing foot power is applied indownwardly and forwardly direction on the steering and pedaling` bar 32as the rump of the horse is moved from its uppermost to its lowermosttilting position.

.be satisfactorily accomplished even. by the use of flexible reinelements.

It is also believed to be apparent that the course of the combinationtoy may be guided readily by operating the steering bar 32 with the feetas would be indicated in dotted outline at Figure 2.

t is believed that the full advantages of all of the foregoing featureswill, be quite apparent especially when we consider the desires ofchildren and their lean-ing towards practical mechanically operated toyswhich have life-like appearance and motion.

l/Vhile I have thus fully set forth my invention, it will be understood,however, that l donot wish to unnecessarily restrict myself to all ofthe details of the improvements exactly as disclosed, excepting as theymay come within the terms of the ensuing claims, or equivalent elements,and as fairly interpreted in the light of the specification iflnecessary, as it is obvious that various alterations might be made infuture practice without necessarily departing from the spirit of theinvention. For instance, the single horse body or Vanalogous elementcould be substituted for by a team, in which latter event a tongue mightbe employed instead of the shafts as the vehicle bitching element.

What I do claim as new and patentable l. In a mechanical toy, thecombination with a vehicle having a bitching element providing wheelsand propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking bodymember pivotally associated towards its forward end with said bitchingelement, a movable head element for said body member, actuating meansbetween said movable head element and said crank mechanism, actuatingmeans between the rear of said body member and said crank mechanism, andmeans for operating said movable head element back and forth.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combinationwith a vehicle having a bitchingelement providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of avertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forwardend with said hitching element` a movable head lelement and pivotal tailelement for said body member, lactuating means between said movablehead` element and said crank mechanism, actuating means between saidpivotal tailelement and said crank mechanism, and means for operatingsaid movable head element back and forth.

ln a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a hitchingelement.

providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a wheeledsupport, a vertically rocking body member mounted by said wheeledsupport and pivotally associated towards its forward end with saidbitching element, connections between said wheeled support and said bodymember for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of thelatter, a movable head ele# ment for said body member, actuating meansbetween said movable head element and said crank mechanism, and meansfor operating said movable head element back and forth to operate saidactuating means.

e. ln a mechanical toy, the ,Combination loo 1ers-,990

withk aipjvehicle having hitching element.

i a vertically rocking body member mounted by said! wheeled supportvand? pivotally assoc iatedI towards its forward end with` said hitchingelement, connections between said wheeled support and' said' body memberfor advancing and withdrawing |the former by the rocking. ofthe latter,a movable` head element for said-body memberyactuating means betweensaidimovable head element and said crank mechanism actuating. meansbetween i the rear of saidbody member and: said crank mechanism,y andmeansfor moving said head element backand` `forth.f

5, In yalmechanicaltoy,y thel combination with a vehicle having ahitching elementproviding wheels andY propelling crankmechanisintherefor, of a wheeled. support,

a vertically" rocking body member mounted by said wheeledysupportand"pivotally associated towards its forward' end with saidhitclfiingVelement, connections' between said wheeledA supporti' and Said bodymember for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking, of thelatter,l a movable head element andra pivotal tail element for said:.=body member, actuating means between said movable head element` andlsaid.v crank mechanismI actuating means between said pivotal tailelement andV said crank mechanism, and means for operating, said movablehead elementA back and forth;` c

6. In a mechanical toy, the'combination with af vehicle; having ahitching element providing wheels and propelling crank mechanismtherefor, of a vertically rocking body member pivotally associatedtowards its forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeledsupport bodily mounting said rocking body member in revolubleassociation therewith, connections between said wheeled support and saidbody member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking ofthe latter,

steering means for said connections, a mov-v able head element for saidbody member, ac-

tuating means between said movable head element Vand said crankmechanism, actuating means between the rear of said body member and saidcrank mechanism, and means for operating said head element lback andforth.

7 In mechanical toys, the combination with a vehicle having a hitchingelement providing l1jwheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, ofa vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards itsforward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled support bodilymounting said rocking body member in revoluble association therewith,connections between said wheeled support and said body member foradvancing and withdrawing the former by thevrocking .of lthe latter,steering means for said connections, a movable hea'd element andapivotal tail element for said body member, actuating means between saidmovable*l head element and -said crank mechanism, actuating meansbetween said pivotal tail element and said crank mecha nism,` and meansfor. operating said movable head element back. and forth f 8.` In a.mechanical toy, the combination with vehicle having a hitching elementlproviding wheels` and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a'vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forwardend` with said hitchin "element a guiding wheeledv support bodilymounting said rocking member in `revoluble association therewith,connections between said wheeled support and the rear' lower portionv cfsaid rocking member for advancing and withdrawing the former by therocking of' the latter, combined steering and pedaling means mounted bysaid connections, a inevable head element for said bodymember, actuatingmeans between said movable head element and said crank mechanism, actuating means betweenwthe upper rear of said body. member and saidL crankmechanisni, and means vfor operating said head element back and forth y9. In a mechanical toy, 'the combinationA with a vehicle havingal1-itching element` providing wheels p and` propelling crank mechanismtherefor, ofal vertically rocking n animal; Abody member pivotallyassociated' towards ,its forward end with said hitching element, apivotal head element for ,said rocking member providing a base neck eX-tension, a pivotal tail element for said rocking member, actuating meansbetween said pivotal tail element and said crank mecha` ice nism,actuating means `between said base neck extension and said crankmechanism,

'said hitching element, connections between said wheeled support andsaid rocking member for advancing and withdrawing the former by therocking of the latter, a pivoted head element for said rocking memberprol viding a Ibase neck extension, ,actuating means between said baseneck extension and said crank mechanism, and reins connected to saidpivotal head element for swinging the latter and its base neck extensionback and forth.

1l. In a mechanical toy, the combination l providing element tor saidrocking member providing' a base neck extension, actuating means betweensaid base neck extension' and said crank mechanism, actuating mea-nsbetween the rear oie said rocking member and said crank mechanism, andreins connected to said pivotal head element for swinging the latter andits base neck extension back and forth. f

l2. ln a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having ahitching element providing wheels and `propelling crank mechanismtherefor, ot a vertically rocking animal body member pivotallyassociated towards its 'forward end with said hitching element, aguiding wheeled support bodily mounting said rocking member in revolubleassociation therewith, pivotal rigid connections between said wheeledsupport and the rear lower portion of said rocking member for advancingand withdrawing the former by the rocking of the latter, combinedsteering and pedaling means mounted by said pivotal rigid connections, apivotal head elelment for said rocking member providing a 13. ln amechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a hitching elementproviding wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of avertically rocking animal body member pivotally associated towards its'forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled supportmounting said rockingmember in revoluble association therewith, meansfor steering said wheeled support, a head element providing a base neckextension which is intermediately pivoted to the forward end oi' saidrocking member, a lateral pin projecting from opposite sides of thelower portion of said base neck extension and freely extending throughcurved slots in said rocking member; pivotal rigid actuating meansbetween said lateral pin and lsaid crank mechanism, pivotal rigidactuating means between the upper rear ot said rocking member and saidcrank mechanism, and reins connected to the head of said head-neckpivotal element for swinging said lateral pin back and forth lin 'itscurved slots.

lin testimony whereof, I an'iX my signature.

ma enr Nicks.

